SRI Events
“Blindfolded” – Reimagining the Great Indian Epic Mahabharata
February 28, 2026, at Victoria Theatre, Singapore
“Blindfolded” is a dance-theatre reimagining of the Mahabharata, told through the inner world of Queen Gandhari as she confronts her conscience on the eve of the devastating Kurukshetra war. Visited by her shifting, multi-voiced Conscience, Gandhari is forced to examine her choices, silences, and the moral blindness that shaped her family’s fate. As the tragedy unfolds, she meets Kunti, her sister-in-law, on the ravaged battlefield.
The work becomes a powerful reflection on loss, responsibility, and the destructive pull of ego and vengeance. Through Gandhari’s reckoning and Krishna’s timeless counsel, “Blindfolded” emerges as both a denunciation of war and a call to awaken to truth and Dharma in our own lives in these conflicted times.
International Dance Day (IDD) Festival 2025: “Dancing Rivers – Kallang to Kaveri”
3 and 4 May, 2025, at Goodman Arts Centre Black Box
Like rivers that flow and shape our world, life is ever-evolving. “Dancing Rivers – Kallang to Kaveri” honors these timeless lifelines of humanity. Through this production, we seek to inspire gratitude and reverence for our rivers.
Digital Re-launch of Docu-film "And Miles to Flow"
27 Aug 2023, online.
As a classical dancer, I researched and directed the docufilm “And Miles to Flow,” exploring Kathakali, Chinese Opera, and Japan’s Noh and Kabuki traditions. The film highlights the remarkable spiritual and theatrical kinship these forms share despite evolving independently.
Completed over four years, it was selected for the International Documentary Festival (1998) and a 2006 retrospective.
It is now being globally relaunched by the US-based Renu Foundation, led by Anita Kulkarni.
Indian Rainbow II - Night Festival
25 and 26 Aug 2023 at SRI Studio in Stamford Arts Centre
In multicultural Singapore, Shantha Ratii Initiatives (SRI) celebrates cultural exchange through the beauty of Indian dance.
Presenting Indian Rainbow II, featuring Bharatanatyam by Devika Menon and Kuchipudi by Krishnan Unni, guided by a Sutradhar storyteller—along with an exploration of the elegance of the Indian saree.
Join us on 25–26 August at Stamford Arts Centre for “A Date with Tradition,” part of the Singapore Night Festival 2023.
She's Auspicious
24 April 2023 at SRI Studio in Stamford Arts Centre
Shantha Ratii Initiatives (SRI) presented “She’s Auspicious,” a new work by Mythili Prakash that explores the blurred boundaries between Goddess and Woman.
Reflecting her identity as a woman, mother, and Bharatanatyam practitioner, the piece emerged during the pandemic as a deeply personal re-examination of dance, history, and cultural narratives.
Swati Sougandhikam
10 March 2023 at Stein Auditorium, Habitat Centre
Swati Sougandhikam celebrates the timeless compositions of poet-king Swathi Thirunal through an evening of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi by leading artistes of each form.
The performance captures the rich spectrum of emotions— from playful devotion to longing and union—embodying the Nayikas of Indian literary tradition.
Insights from NLB’s Digital Archive of Singapore Tamil Dance
30 July 2022 at National Library Singapore
Join Singapore Tamil Dance Pioneer Shantha Ratii as she shares her beginnings, journey and artistic process as a dancer. Through her own experiences, she will highlight the core values behind independent dance-making in Singapore.
International Dance Day (IDD) Festival 2022
2 and 3 September 2022 at Goodman Arts Centre Blackbox.
The 6th IDD Festival Singapore pays tribute to extraordinary women—past and present—who have courageously broken barriers. From legendary warriors like Hua Mulan and Queen Rudramma Devi to modern-day heroes who rose during Covid-19, this edition celebrates their resilience, strength, and unwavering spirit.
International Dance Day (IDD) Festival 2021
24 and 25 September 2021 at Goodman Arts Centre Blackbox.
At the 5th IDD Festival 2021, SRI celebrating women, the festival features a unique cross-cultural collaboration between Bharatanatyam and Chinese dance artistes.
Blending storytelling with martial arts traditions like Kalaripayattu and Silat, the performance highlights the strength and struggles of a Warrior Queen.
International Dance Day (IDD) Annual Festival Since 2017
International Dance Day Festival has been celebrating the world of dance since 2017, featuring leading artistes and institutions across Singapore’s vibrant arts landscape.
From cross-cultural collaborations to boundary-pushing performances, IDD reflects the nation’s rich multicultural spirit.
Through “SPARKS,” SRI mentors young dancers, nurturing original choreography and new voices.
The festival creates a dynamic space for artistes and audiences to discover, reflect, share, and connect—uniting people through dance and dancing for a cause.
And Miles to Flow
“And Miles to Flow” a documentary in 35mm on the Asian Dance-Theatre traditions, produced, directed & scripted by Shantha Ratii. It celebrates the kinship in spirit which Kathakali of India shares with Noh and Kabuki of Japan and the Chinese Opera which was selected for the International Documentary Festival in 1998 and a retrospective in 2007.
Moksha Katha
Aprovoking solo-dance-theatre that deals with the concept of Dharma – whether Dharma indemnifies us from consequences and how to make sense of the dilemma of righteousness in our day to day dealings.
Performed in 3 dance styles of Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.
Navodaya
A solo-dance-theatre addressing environmental degradation and climate change. SRI used new artistic practices and innovative approaches to engage with this social issue.
Performed in 3 dance styles of Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.
Mix It Up: 6 Part Series
An exuberant series of different performances, including conversations between artistes from different genres of dance from all over the world. From Ballet, Western Contemporary, Local Poet’s Interpretation, through music and dance, Flamenco, Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. The music was a further experimentation with the Chinese Pipa, Middle-Eastern Oud, Guitar, Sonic Sound, Mridangam, Tabla and Carnatic vocals. It was indeed a representative and relevant dialogue with our city, Singapore.
Swati Sougandhikam Festival
The works of a King-Poet, Maharaja Swati Thirunal, was given expression in 3 dance styles performed by 3 dancers – Mohiniattam, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi.
The narration of the King’s life and creative endeavours and his muses that inspired exceptional works from him, sets the stage for the audience to be transported to his 19th century royal court.
